How to determine skin type: signs, characteristics for each type, test at home, methods, characteristics, care features

The face of each individual woman needs an individual approach, this is due to the fact that there are different types of facial skin in the world. Traditionally, there are only 4 types of skin: normal, dry, oily and combination (mixed) .

Each type needs special care, so if you want to improve your appearance and maintain youth, then you just need to identify it. You can determine your facial skin type both in beauty salons and at home. Of course, an experienced cosmetologist will tell you more precisely what kind of skin you have and why problems arise, and will also immediately recommend a care system specifically for your skin and some additional medical products. But if you don’t have the opportunity to see a specialist, then you can determine your skin type yourself.

Oily skin test

This test is indicative for young skin, up to 30 years. Those with mature, aged or dehydrated skin are advised to determine their skin type based on other criteria.

In the morning, wash your face using mild cleansers - foam or gel wash. Dry your face with a towel and do not apply any cosmetics to your skin. After two hours, start testing.

Apply a thin cloth to your face and apply light pressure to your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks.

Test results evaluation:

The test is negative: there are no greasy stains on the paper - dry skin

The test is positive: on paper, oily spots only in the forehead, nose and chin; intense spots - combination skin

Mild spots - normal skin

The test is strongly positive: there are five oily spots on the paper in the T-zone and in the cheek area - oily skin

What causes increased activity of the sebaceous glands

Heredity. Unfortunately, this reason cannot be eliminated. However, the condition of the skin can be significantly improved by choosing the right care system.

Increased testosterone levels. As a rule, this feature is more common in adolescence due to hormonal changes in the body. Excess testosterone can also cause some hormonal diseases. Then you need to consult a doctor.

Disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland.

Stress also negatively affects the skin and hair. Frequent nervous tension and depression provoke their increased fat content.

Poor nutrition. Fast food - food oversaturated with carbohydrates and fats worsens the condition of the skin, increasing oiliness and clogging of pores. Products enriched with fiber and fermented milk products are ideal for healthy skin. You can also supplement your diet with a multivitamin complex.

Overuse of cleansers with high alcohol content. There is a misconception that oily skin needs alcohol-based care products. In this case, a vicious circle results. Frequent application of products with alcohol dehydrates the skin. In response to this, epidermal cells secrete even more secretion. This is how inflammation and blackheads occur.

Daily peeling. As a result of excessive mechanical or chemical cleansing of the face, frequent inflammations intensify.

It is important to remember, no matter what the reason for excessive oiliness of the epidermis, rational and well-chosen care can give your face well-groomed and radiant.

Skin type cannot be changed

You can often hear the question: what determines skin type and why can’t it be changed?

Skin type is determined by genetics and if you were already born with dry or oily skin, then this skin type will accompany you throughout your life and it is impossible to change it.

Another thing is that with age, the condition of any skin changes slightly. For example, at the age of about 30, the activity of the sebaceous glands and the synthesis of epidermal lipids decreases, and any skin, even oily, becomes drier with age.

However, if you had dense, porous skin in your youth, then it will be the same at 40 and 50 years old, and you will never be able to make it thin, with barely noticeable pores like girls with dry skin.

Features of care

There is a certain sequence when caring for each skin type. But oily epidermis requires special attention.

Morning daily care.

To wash oily skin, it is better to use lukewarm purified water, a special light gel or foam. It is not recommended to wash your face with regular soap, as it can dry out the surface.

After washing, you need to apply your usual tonic, hydrosol or lotion that tightens pores

Mandatory hydration. For this task, it is better to choose a cream with a reduced fat content and SPF protection. If there are inflammatory elements, you need to treat them with salicylic acid.

Selection of decorative cosmetics. When choosing a foundation, it is better to give preference to a special foundation or mineral powder. The main thing is that all products do not contain fatty ingredients and have SPF protection.

Skin turgor

Dividing the skin only into dry, normal, oily and combination is insufficient, since it reflects only the characteristics of sebum and sweating, but does not take into account such important indicators of skin condition as firmness, elasticity and fullness, which in cosmetology is called skin turgor. Therefore, to more accurately determine the condition of the skin, it is necessary to conduct an additional test.

Skin turgor test

To assess skin turgor, you need to grab an area of skin with two fingers (thumb and forefinger), hold for a couple of seconds and release. With this test you can check the elasticity of the skin on any part of the body. And on the face, skin turgor is determined by capturing the fold in the side under the cheekbones (see video).

If the skin resists and it is quite difficult to form a skin fold, the skin turgor is excellent.

If you can form a skin fold, but as soon as you release the skin, the fold immediately straightens - the skin turgor is slightly reduced.

If a fold is easily formed and does not straighten out immediately, and in some places the skin itself forms folds, the turgor is significantly reduced.

So, in addition to your skin type, you now know how to determine your skin turgor, and this indicator is just as important when choosing facial care products. But it is important to remember that, unlike skin type, skin turgor changes with age, so you need to repeat this test periodically.

Cosmetology educational program

Main types of facial skin and their characteristics:

Normal. Looks smooth and even. The pores on it are almost invisible. The surface is matte, there are no acne, scars or other defects. On such a face, small wrinkles are almost invisible, the water and fat balance of the skin is not disturbed. Daily care for this type is simple and does not require the use of medicinal cosmetics.
Dry. Very delicate, thin, has a delicate blush, which is often a sign of rosacea. It is more common in blondes with light eyes than in brown-haired women and brunettes. In hot weather, it loses water very quickly, which leads to rapid dehydration. If a woman does not know how to determine her facial skin type and applies cosmetics incorrectly, the first wrinkles appear on her face very quickly. Cool and windy weather is also unfavorable for moisture-deficient skin. Not protected by anything, it is prone to peeling and the formation of microcracks. He also does not tolerate water procedures using soap well, and is hypersensitive to new creams and masks. Inappropriate cosmetics can cause not only burning and itching, but also severe allergies. Therefore, if there are such problems, you need to visit a cosmetologist and accurately determine the type of skin.
Fat. Here the sebaceous glands are too active. She looks unhealthy, often grayish. It may shine or become glossy. The pores are clearly enlarged, which are prone to the formation of comedones, so in cosmetology the oily skin type is often compared to the peel of an orange. However, there are beneficial benefits to having oily skin. She ages slowly and withstands unfavorable weather changes almost painlessly. Wrinkles on the face become noticeable much later. As a result of incorrectly selected cosmetics, peeling may appear on the face, so identifying this type as early as possible is also important.
Combined or mixed. Happens frequently. Has signs of both dry and oily skin. Fatty areas are most often located on the nose, chin and forehead. Dry - around the eyes and on the cheeks.

Watch the video about skin types:

Skin sensitivity

But any skin, regardless of age and type, can have such a characteristic as sensitivity.

Increased skin sensitivity can be temporary - caused by health problems, menopause, and certain cosmetic procedures, such as peels.

High sensitivity can also be permanent - due to certain genetic characteristics of the skin and blood vessels. This indicator also needs to be taken into account when choosing cosmetics.

How to care for normal facial skin?

There are no problems here with the choice of cosmetics and daily care. Normal skin is not picky and has no specific needs. Therefore, most products will suit her. The main thing is to moisturize it regularly. It is useful to make masks from time to time that will provide her with a sufficient amount of nutrients and vitamins.

Cosmetics for normal skin

Fresh Tint cushion primer from Shu Uemura. Moisturizes, evens out the skin before applying foundation and generally refreshes.

Lancôme Skin Feels Good foundation. Normal skin rarely needs to disguise imperfections, so to work with the tone, you can use a product with care functions and a light translucent coating.

Maybelline New York Master Blush Palette. There is no urgent need for additional hydration with cream blush, so you can put a powder product in your cosmetic bag.

How to care for dry skin?

Unlike normal skin, dry skin needs thoughtful care. She needs not only hydration, but also nutrition with the help of products with a rich texture and oils in the composition. In this case, it is impossible to overdo it with care - everything is beneficial for dry skin. To prepare it for makeup, it would be a good idea to first apply a light oil and then additionally moisturize it with a cream. It is important to take care of such skin at least twice a day, morning and evening. Better yet, feed it extra throughout the day.

Cosmetics for dry skin

Born To Glow Primer from NYX Professional Makeup. The main reason for dull skin is lack of hydration. To make it shine, use a moisturizing primer with shimmering particles as a base for your makeup.

Maestro Fusion Makeup foundation from Giorgio Armani. The content of non-fat oils in this product will be very useful for dry skin.

Blush Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Duo Stick from Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. Most often, the skin is especially dry on the cheeks. So blush should be used with a soft creamy texture.